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And a church group in Aston wants to convert a former warehouse into a cafe, beauty salon, community centre and place of worship.

There's further controversy over the future of the Barry Jackson tower block in Aston which the council wants to turn into a temporary homes for homeless families. Some residents would rather see it demolished and new low rise housing built.

The meeting kicks off at 11am and we will be covering it live. So stick with us as we bring you the latest on planning applications decided by Birmingham City Council.

Developer Pershore Street Ltd has met with local businesses and residents, as well as council officers to try to resolve the situation to get their plans passed. The committee are getting a report and will make a decision later.

New traveller camp in Aston approved

Cllr Peter Griffiths says the city doesn’t have official places for travellers and that this has been earmarked and discussed for some time.

Cllr Keith Linnecor

We do need to find more sites which could be paid for and have w/c facilities.

He points out that the planned official sites are in the north of the city and wants the council to look at a location in the south.

Cllr Lou Robson, who has been dealing with concerns from unauthorised camps at Sarehole Mill this summer agrees that a site in the south would be useful.

Cllr Adam Higgs wants to ensure CCTV is installed on the new camp.

Cllr Mike Ward in contrast is worried that a CCTV system might deter travellers and give them excuse not to use official camp.

And Cllr Gareth Moore says they need to learn the lessons from the existing site at Tameside Drive which is unusable.

Although a valid point, this is a management issue not a planning consideration the official responds.

It is voted through unanimously.

11:54

Car wash

Minor application for the relocation of a car jet wash at the Whynot Service Station in Reddicap Heath Road.

Residents say it is a noisy nuisance - and planning officers served an enforcement notice to get the jet wash moved and secure planning permission.

Cllr Cornish calls for one year temporary permission to assess the noise levels from the new location.

Planning officer Pete Barton says the new location is within the service station building which will muffle the noise.

The rest of the committee back her call for a one year temporary permission.

11:49

Plans for three detached homes in Sutton Coldfield

The committee approves the demolition of a house at 15 Sherifoot Lane in Mere Green and construction of three replacement bungalows.

Some question over whether residents were informed, they wanted to speak. Planning department says that the notices were sent out and residents who had raised concerns were directly informed of the committee date and due process followed.

Cllr Maureen Cornish (Cons) says that a previous application for houses was rejected because they thought that it would be over developed, so the applicant has come back with bungalows which are more reasonable.

11 vote for, one against.

11:43KEY EVENT

The vote - tower homeless plan approved

Planning officer Pete Barton stresses that the block is just temporary, no families will be there for a long time and that there are substantial communal and support facilities - more than convention flats.

Eight councillors vote in favour, one against and one abstention.

The plan is approved.

11:39

Debate on Barry Jackson tower plan continues

The committee is told that these are short-term tenancies, up to four months at a time.

Cllr Lucy Seymour-Smith (Lab) says that the committee considers applications fairly and on the evidence presented to them - they are not pre-decided.

And adds

I welcome this application, this is very much needed

She also points out that a number of families made homeless following the recent floods were housed outside the city.

Cllr Gareth Moore (Cons) is however not sure that putting families into tower blocks is the right thing to do, even if only temporary.

He says that much of his casework in his Erdington ward involves families trying to get out of tower blocks and complaints that the towers blocks are not well managed.

Cllr Mohammed Azim (Lab) says the facility is desperately needed, but wants to ensure the tenants backgrounds are thoroughly checked to ensure they will not be a problem for the community.

Cllr Lou Robson (Lab) points out she is dealing with cases of homeless families living in hotels in towns like Tamworth - an issue we highlighted here.

A tower block is not ideal, but the current crisis situation is desperate, she says.

Cllr Mike Ward (Lib Dem) has mixed feelings -the tower block is not ideal, but given the scale of the city’s housing crisis he will support it.

This view is echoed across the committee.

11:26

Head of housing now

Head of housnig options Jim Crawshaw, says they face unprecedented demand for homeless places - with 2,328 households currently being kept in temporary places including hotels outside the city.

He says the clients will be families with children and pregnant women.

We will not be housing single men, or anybody who has a history of mental health problems

He says they will install CCTV, have on site support staff and liaise closely with police to ensure safety and security of residents and tenants.

Mr Crawshaw says tenants will also have a curfew.

Planning officer Pete Barton confirms that the building is not allowed to house single men.

He says the up to 544 residents will be an influx into the community which was not anticipated.

But points out these temporary residents would have less impact on the community than if the tower was simply reopened to regular households (which would not need planning permission).

11:19KEY EVENT

Barry Jackson Tower plan now - speakers for and against coming up

Residents Samira and Dorothy Gerald are going to outline their case against the conversion of the tower into a temporary base for homeless families.

Their concerns include loss of privacy, lack of parking spaces (particularly during Friday prayers at local Mosques and Aston Villa matchdays).

It is well known Barry Jackson tower has been a site for crime and anti-social behaviour. And this will see it start up again

The residents are hammering home their fear that the homeless families will bring social problems and crime with them.

They also question whether a council planning committee can fairly consider a plan from the city council.

11:15

Neighbours dispute over extension

While we highlight the big plans, the committee also deals with a lot of individual schemes. Occasionally they prove controversial.

Now there is a dispute over a two storey side and rear extension and new porch for a detached house at 84 Hamstead Hill in Handsworth Wood.

Neighbours are now saying the extension is too large. They say it is larger than the original house and will overshadow next door properties.

They are requesting the committee visit the house, saying the planning officers report does not reflect the scale and situation accurately.

Planning officer Pete Barton agrees it is a “sizable” extension but that the site, the garden and space around the building, can take it.

The committee has also been shown a google Earth view of the house and street. Next door homes do look quite large in comparison.

Cllr Gareth Moore wants a condition imposed on the development to prevent it being converted into a house of multiple occupation.

There’s no wider appetite for that, nor a site visit.

Six vote in favour to allow the extension, none against and several abstentions. Permission granted.

11:00

Aston Church plan withdrawn

The plan to turn a former industrial warehouse in Chester Street, Aston into a church and community centre has been withdrawn by the applicant.

It was likely to be refused as the city has a policy of preserving industrial sites for employment purposes.

Perhaps the applicant, Betel UK, is looking for an alternative venue for what would be a substantial facility.

10:29Neil Elkes

Coming to a future meeting

It’s not on today’s agenda - there’s still time for comments and petitions - but this plan to turn an old pub into a drive through KFC might be of interest.

It will be appearing at committee in a few weeks time.

10:25Neil Elkes

1,009 homes in the city centre

We’ve been talking about things being built on this Bristol Street site for about 15 years, perhaps this is the one which will finally get built.

It is certainly eye-catching with two giant tower blocks and the committee was broadly supportive when they took an early look at the proposals in January.

CGI of plans to redevelop Monaco House in Birmingham to build around 1,000 new homes

However many of those committee members have been replaced following elections and reshuffles so the new people might take a different view.

10:07Neil Elkes

Controversial traveller camp

Plans to create Birmingham’s second official traveller camp s set to be approved by councillors this week.

The city council wants to turn a car park at the junction of Aston Brook Street East and Hubert Street in Aston into a site for up to four caravans.

Currently Birmingham has only one official site at Tameside Drive, Castle Vale and the city council has been told to set up more if it wants to take stronger enforcement action against the unofficial camps which blight parks during the summer.

We covered it in more detail here

10:03Neil Elkes

Return for Timber Yard development

Plans for 379 apartments in Pershore Street were blocked in June over fears of the impact on Gay Village nightspots nearby.

The concern is that future residents of the Timber Yard development might find the area a little noisy and get some established clubs closed down.

Developer Pershore Street Ltd has met with local businesses and residents, as well as council officers to try to resolve the situation to get their plans passed. The committee are getting a report and will make a decision later.

CGI of plans to build 379 apartments on a car park at the corner of Hurst Street and Skinner Lane, to be called 'Timber Yard' (Image: Claridge Architects)

09:57Neil Elkes

Homes for the homeless

Once earmarked for demolition, the council owned 20-storey Barry Jackson tower in Estone Walk, Aston has now been spared as part of a £11 million plan to provide more temporary flats for the city’s homeless.

The council has worked out that it will save money on its bed and breakfast bills by refurbishing the tower block and has promised to provide on site support and security.

There have been protests and petitions from residents. We covered the planning application here: